The Nairobi County Assembly has initiated a move to replace old employees with young, energetic staff through a voluntary retirement process.

According to a report tabled in the county assembly, out of the estimated 14,000-strong Executive workforce, 60 per cent are aged 50 to 60 years, with an average of 651 officers retiring annually.

“In order for the county to deliver services, it requires energetic people. Some staff in some sectors worked in the defunct City Council, but at the moment we need people who are also conversant with technology,” said Umoja 1 Ward Rep Mark Mugambi.

Using his Umoja 1 Ward as an example, he said it has less than 10 county staff working in the environment sector.

He added that with the aged workforce, a further 25 per cent have been slowed down by ill health, alcohol addiction and cases of absconding duty.

Mugambi said there is a need to facilitate their retirement benefits and encourage a dignified early exit. According to findings of the report, 550 county employees retired in 2020 and some 535 in 2021.

This year, it is reported that 682 have already retired, and in 2023 some 950 are expected to exit.

In support of the proposal, Assembly Majority Leader Peter Imwatok said it was worrying that some of the county staff are too old and frail to carry out energy-intensive tasks.

“The Human Resource Department and Administration should know at what time certain employees have the energy to serve at certain departments,” he said.

Imwatok said a previous workforce audit revealed the county was insuring about 2,000 non-existent employees.

Meanwhile, the plight of ageing county employees was considered in the Sh38 billion development budget that was passed in the Assembly on November 10.

The Finance Committee, chaired by Wilfred Odalo, noted that staff dismissal would be undertaken according to the law and that the remaining staff would be facilitated with the necessary working tools.

“The committee has said there are a number of initiatives aimed at boosting staff morale, including introduction of voluntary early retirement, car loans and mortgage, and allocations for purchase of staff uniforms,” said Odalo.